a double bill of classic Borehamwood horror.

Part 2

Shooting hadn't even finished on Blood from the Mommy's Tomb when camera's started rolling on Hammer's next film, and continuing with the classics, this time Robert Louis Stevenson Jekyll & Hyde - with a Hammer twist of course. " Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde " Brian Clemens came up with the title while having lunch in the studio canteen at EMI, and then went on to write the screenplay and produce the film with Albert Fennell.



It's a great movie with some great performances, especially the two leads Ralph Bates and Martine Beswick. The Whole movie was shot on some very nice atmospheric sets evoking a dark and foggy 19th century London Town, with a healthy mix of Jack the Ripper and even some body snatching from Burke & Hare, and of course lots of bloody screams.


There's a definite sense of Movie Theatre here, something I think the film world has lost a lot of with its need for realism. One of my favorite scenes's is Jekyll's first transformation into Hyde, and its all done in one shot using mirrors and chairs - its great just for its pure sense of theatre. It's in this scene we first get to see Martine Beswick, and it's really quite creepy in a way only the 1970's can do creepy.



After such a great performance it's a shame she never worked with Hammer again, leaving England & Borehamwood for Hollywood.

View from the Village

Sometime in early 1960 a certain Patrick McGoohan came to borehamwood to star as John Drake in Danger Man. He would end up sticking around for the next 8 years or so, and go on to create TV history, of which we'll get to ...



This rather imposing image is of Amalgamated Studios in Borehamwood on Elstree Way, built in 1937 and to become the old MGM studios where the series was shot from 1960 to 1967. The First episode was A view from a Villa written by the legend that is Brian Clemens and shot in the town of Portmerion



And here is a closer look at the fabulous clock tower that stood empty for many years, and which i would walk past every day on the way to school. Left to fall into disrepair it was demolished in late '80's to be replaced by, well nothing. all that remains is a small brick wall along the footpath.



But happily it lives on, here you see John Drake at the entrance in an Episode of Danger Man. The deeper I look into my home town and all its strange comings and goings, I am most excited when i see one of the many studios used as a location or as a back drop for a quick publicity shot, so you'll have to forgive me if thats where i focus.
I have not seen this show for many years so will go back to it at a later date